Eco-praxis: the story of environmental and sustainability connections as a wider theory base in social work education

Abstract This research highlights the gap in social work education about environmental topics and considers if an eco-socio approach can help social work students to holistically engage with the people, situations, and settings that they support. Pockets of environmental education in social work are limited, ad hoc and inconsistent therefore, this study considers a transdisciplinary perspective to show what learning can be transferred from environmental educators and student teachers forest school training, that could enhance social work education. System theory provides an overarching theoretical framework, and a variety of systems models is explored and repurposed to promote critical reflection and ethical dialogue about social work education and the environment. Narrative approach grounds the method of interview and observation to gather the participants experiences of nature within learning and practice. Narrative inquiry is applied to interpret and understand the perspective of each participant group and re-tell the social work student, environmental educator and student teacher ‘story’ about the environment. The findings show participatory pedagogies and tangible experience help connect learners with the environment and could be used to develop and enhance social work education. The findings suggest environmental educators want to inspire learner curiosity and connection with nature. Student teachers easily engage with forest school pedagogy to enrich their practice which is transferred back into the classroom to support learners. The social work students identified as being educators, role models, and made eco-socio connections in learning and practice. There is interest from social work students for an eco-module to support social work education. The discussion suggests an eco-module is achieved by ‘balance, connection and opportunity’ for social work students to learn environmental topics. The study concludes by reclaiming an environmental narrative, with social work students re-imagining new ways of being, doing, and knowing social work and the environment, which is called the ‘Eco-praxis story’. Keywords: eco-module, eco-praxis, eco-socio, education, environment, social work.<p></p>

Author dc:creator

• Sam Pulman (21038930)

• Social work
• Environment
• Education
• Systems theories

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved

Identifier

10779/exe.31843414.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/31843414